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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHorse Trails Y61 October 10. 2015 Dear Supervisor Russell and Board Members, lust about 15 years ago ,when I closed on my home in Southold, I noticed a$2000.00 line item for the Land Preservation Fund,and I asked my realtor what that is. He replied, "Oh.that's the welcome to Southold tax". I didn't like paying it at the time, but since then I have found and used some of the properties which were aquired through those funds. One such property is the wood between North Bayview Road and Paradise Point Road, recently referenced in an article in the Suffolk Times regarding horse back riding. My wife, I, and our neighbors Ase that wood as a short cut to Cedar Beach when walking. My wife and I use the path about three times a week when we can—hunting has claimed the wood from October to February for the past few years (even though only 2 deer were taken in 2014, according to Nancy in DPW). The loss of use during the winter months seems to be an unqualified burden, since we only twice found a hunter in the woods. To give up further use to an occasional horse ride should be precluded. We have seen many more hikers, dog walkers, and kids playing on this property than hunters and horseback riders. We have never seen a horse in there. Of course, we are agreeable to sharing the property with local animal &pet keepers, and we recognize the dangers involved with entering during hunting season. We wholeheartedly agree that the deer population needs to be drastically reduced, but if hunters are taking only 2-4 deer a year, is closing out hikers justified? My wife and I and others believe that these Town resources should be shared among all who have paid for them. Ms. Franke is wrong when she says, "The land's been sitting there and no one's using it". That wood means more to many more than you might realize. Please preserve the public's opportunity to enjoy these treasured resources. Thank you. f‘, , D E © ft L m si ly----Az6,44._ OCT 132015 SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE 4 _cAluatt/" TOWN OF SOUTHOLD Peter and Alice Meeker